I believe that I mentioned earlier in a blog that I am an Rn at a local hospital. Being new on the job, I think I have a fresh perspective and am often thinking of ways that things might run smoother. I would like for my floor to have about a 5 to 10 minute staff meting at the beginning of each shift. Perhaps the charge nurse or assistant director could head this with all the oncoming staff. Current issues of the floor could be mentioned, prayer requests, or anything pertinent to the upcoming shift. This could also be used as a rally time for floor morale!
Secondly, I feel like so much of an Rn’s time is spent charting at the computer instead of giving hands on care for our patients. I would love to see hospitals have a system where an Rn could go in a room and do her assessment on a patient verbally and be able to plug this drive into the computer and have it record all her assessments. I believe the assessments would be more accurate and timely. It would also hold Rn’s more accountable for “complete” assessing. This devise could be used for virtually all encounters with patients…this would eliminate the whole “he said/she said” problem in court as well. Charting is my least favorite part of my job…someday, I hope technology will come save me!!!:)
